I spent 30 years as a teacher of youngsters - grades 5 and 6
and loved it! They were great years (1957-1986). My teaching
career was a direct result of my experiences of death and
destruction as a combat Marine in two wars - World War II
and Korea.

I taught my own four children, and hundreds of other
peoples children, that legal, law-abiding behavior is
desireable. However, in a civilized society, it is minimal
behavior. Civilization cannot long endure if our conduct is
merely "legal." For civilization to endure and extend personal
liberty, human relations must be characterized by respect,
courtesy, good manners, ethics, and morality - none of which
are required by law.

"I didn't break any laws" has become the hissing cackle of
false humility and hypocritical vanity displayed by the puff-
adder politician in the White House and his "Sit Up!Bark!"
emulators in the halls of Congress. He is a walking, talking
contradiction of everything worthy I taught children for 30
years.

"I didn't break any laws" is nothing to brag about. Our
ancestors were individuals and families of character as with
most of the American people who do not measure their daily
choices by what is merely legal. They have lived their
moment-by-moment lives by respect for individuals, standards
of ethics, and principles of boundary that transcend mere law.
They believed this was normal and average civilized conduct.
When they come of age, our children and our children's children
will agree.

The actor in the White House is, by repeated acts of
misconduct, challenging the statistical laws of probability
and the Creator's sow-reap Laws of Certainty. Lying and
cheating, and getting away with it, appears to be successful.
But, like a speeder on the highway, "Success breeds failure."
He will get caught or crash - or both! Count on it.

The day is soon coming when his former supporters will, by
hindsight, speak his name as a curse. Many of us would have
preferred foresight. But, after all, foresight has a
prerequisite. It is called "making choices by principle."